When contributing to the reading guide, follow these steps:
1) First complete the reading guide on your own from the Ecology unit page. 2) Write your response to a question in word and then copy it. Be sure to upload pictures and/or video for each question. 3) Click on the edit button and then go to the appropriate question and paste your answer below it.Sign your contribution with your first name and last initial and TEAM COLOR 4) Scroll to the very bottom and in the Optional comment box, place a summary of what you did and sign it (e.g. "I answered chp 26 question 3" - Tom S.) Then click Save.
Blue
19-17
Purple
16-14
Green
13-12
Pink
11-10
Yellow
9-7
Orange
6-4
Red
3-1
1. How do behavioral ecologists define behavior? -Mr. V approved (also evolutionary significance of behavior as related to life history) Behavioral ecologists define behavior as everything an animal does and how it does it. --Jackie H. red team These two sandpipers fighting over food are an example of the kind of behavior behavioral ecologists study. -Kim K. red team 2. What is the focus of:
a. Proximate questions of behavior? -Mr. V approved
focuses on the environmental stimuli, if any, that trigger a particular behavioral act, as well as the genetic, physiological, and anatomical mechanisms underlying it. --Jackie H. red team
This bear can smell pharomones and finds the female producing them to mate, which is a reaction to a stimulus. Kim K. Red Team
b. Ultimate questions of behavior?
focuses on the evolutionary significance of a behavioral act. --Jackie H. red team
The act of the female praying mantis to eat its mate has proven evolutionary advantageous because it allows for strong, healthy offspring. Kim K. Red Team
3. Define the following terms: -Mr. V say O.K. but examples would help others. a. Ethology- the study of animal behavior in natural conditions
b. Fixed action pattern- (FAP) a sequence of unlearned behavioral acts that is essentially unchangeable and usually carried to completion and initiated - example: goose will continue to roll an egg back to it's nest even after the egg is take from it.
c. Sign stimulus-an external sensory stimulus that triggers a FAP
For example, if a golf ball were placed infront of the goose, it would still roll it under because have a round object infront of it acts as a stimulus -Kim K.
d. Imprinting-a type of learned behavior with a significant innate component, acquired during a limitted critical period; generally irreversable
For example, when ducklings follow a human because the human image as their mother was imprinted in them at an early age. -Kim K.
e. Sensitive period-a limitted phase in an animal's development that is the only time when certain behviors can be learned
f. Innate behavior-behavior that is devellopmentally fixed and under strong genetic control
--Jackie H. red team
4. Compare and contrast and give specific examples of kinesis and taxis. -Mr. V approved Kinesis is a simple change in activity or turning rate in response to a stimulus. For example, sow bugs survive best in moist environments because they exhibit a kinesis in response to variation in humidity. In contrast to a kinesis, a taxis is a more or less automatic, oriented movement toward or away from some stimulus. An example of a taxis would be that many stream fish exhibit positive rheotaxis; they automatically swim or orient themselves in an upstream direction.
Dan S.
Table of Different Taxes
5. What is the relationship between migration and genetic control Mr. V says you need to revise this answer (incorrect)
They are related because the migration of a species causes them to spread their gene, which then caused genetic drift. Species may move due to their surroundings. If the environment isn’t able to support the species, they will often find one that can. In their search for this new environment, the species will also spread their genes with others.
This picture shows that as the birds migrate, they share their genes with others in their species causing drastic changes in the end.
6. How are the terms signal and communication related? -Mr. V approved A signal is a behavior that causes a change in another animal’s behavior. The transmission of, reception of, and response to signals constitute animal communication, an essential element of interactions between individuals.
The cattle egret emits a loud call to warn nearby cattle of stalking predators.
Dan S. 7. Describe and give three different examples of animal signals and communication. -Mr. V Says Pictures are helpful
1. Most terrestrial mammals are nocturnal, so they use olfactory and auditory signals (smell and sound) to signal each other, because these work best in the dark. Olfactory signals rely greatly on pheromones, which are odors that emit chemical substances from an animal.
2. Birds, however, are diurnal, and communicate by visual and auditory signals. Birds use songs as their main type of communication.
3. Humans are also diurnal and find it easiest to communicate via auditory and visual signals.
8. What evidence is there that mating and parental behavior can be under genetic influence? -Mr. V Says add pictures and elaborate - did the mice become monogamous? Imagine if the was developed as a commercial treatment for humans?!?
An organism called the prairie vole has unique mating behavior, in which it is monogamous and also helps the female with their offspring and cares for them. These traits are very rare among male terrestrial mammals. Research showed that during mating, a neuro-transmitter called V1a is distributed greatly, which probably controls their mating behavior. To test this, scientists inserted the prairie vole V1a into lab mice. After being injected with this, the mice started to show brain activity concerning the V1a very similar to that on the prairie vole and similar mating habits, as opposed to wild mice, which showed none of the same characteristics.
9. Define the following terms: -Mr. V Says examples would help
a. Learning the modification of behavior based on specific experiences
b. Habituation the loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey little or no information
c. Spatial learning the modification of behavior based on experience with the spatial structure of the environment, including the locations of nest sites, hazards, food, and prospective mates d. Cognitive map an internal representation, or code, of the spatial relationships between objects in an animal's surroundings
e. Associative learning
the ability of many animals to associate one feature of the environment with another
f. Classical conditioning an arbitrary stimulus is associated with a reward, or punishment
g. Operant conditioning trial-error learning, an animals learns to associate one of its own behaviors with a reward, or a punishment and then tends to repeat or avoid that behavior
- Keely B.
10. Describe the classic experiment done by Tinbergen dealing with wasps. Why was this experiment considered important? -Mr. V approved
In the experiment Tinbergen used pinecones to landmark a wasp’s nest. Then he moved the pinecones to see if the wasp used them as a landmark to find the nest. When the wasp couldn’t find the nest after the cones were moved, it proved that animals use landmarks to find their homes.(it also showed that even simple brains were wired to "learn" as opposed to just following a chemical trail)- alyssa c. 11. Specifically, describe what cognitive ethology studies. -Mr. V approved Cognitive ethology studies the connection between nervous systems and a creature's behavior. Cognitive ethology studies the potential for animals to solve problems -Adam A-
The chimp uses the stick to get his food 12. Look up the definition of natural selection or review briefly the first chapter pages 15 – 18. Using this framework proved two different examples of the relationship between behavioral trait and natural selection. Why does this relationship “make sense”?
1. A trait of fish are to swim in schools because they have a smaller chance of being eaten since they look bigger.
school.jpg image by Cheeriotown
2. Most Wolves hunt in packs because it is much more efficent and you have others to back you up. -Mr. V approved 13. The statement can be made that “there are risks and benefits” to everything.” How does this relate to the optimal foraging theory? -Mr. V approved There is a compromise between the benefits of nutrition and the cost of obtaining food.—Mario Ciao The theory states that natural selection will favor animals that have developed foraging methods that use less energy and are at less of a risk of being killed while obtaining the food. This theory wants the risk of being killed to be small as possible and the benefits to be as large as possible. Martin A 14. What is generally the most important factor in the evolution of mating systems and why does this “make sense’? -Mr. V approved The most important factor in the evolution of mating systems is the survival of offspring. This “makes sense” because the mating systems that worked (produced offspring), are going to be repeated in the succeeding generation. If a mating system is unproductive, their will be no offspring to continue doing it.
In a beehive, their is the queen bee, sterile workers, and fertile males. This is a mating system that has worked to ensure the survival and reproduction of bees. If it was unsuccessful in a particular environment, it is likely that it would die out. 15. What is agonistic behavior? -Mr. V approved Agonistic behavior is behavior of an organisms that allows it to gain access to a resource (food, territory, mate). Organisms will display this behavior, and the most dominant will gain access to the resources. For example, male peacocks have large, colorful tails that they display to attract mates. The most noticeable peacock is likely to be chosen for mating. 16. How does game theory relate to animal behavior? -Mr. V approved
The game theory says that organisms' lives are much like a game: the organism with the best situation for reproduction wins. At a basic level, this “situation” includes access to food, water, and mates.
Darwin observed finches in the Galapagos that fed on different foods. Because there were too many finches to eat just one type of food, those birds that were able to vary their diets did so. By changing the things they ate, they improved their likelihood of reproducing (winning the game). 17. Define the following terms: -Mr. V approved
a. Altruism Behavior that appears to reduces an individual’s fitness while increasing the fitness of another individual. Here the monkeys are helping each other by picking off harmful objects and insects, and receiving nothing in return. (except that grooming is reciprocal) The total effect an individual has on proliferating its genes by producing its own offspring and by providing aid that enable other close relatives to increase the production of their offspring.
The probability that a particular gene present in one individual will also be inherited from a common parent or ancestor in a second individual.
A phenomenon of inclusive fitness, used to explain altruistic behavior between related individuals. 18. Is reciprocal altruism common in animals? Why or why not? -Mr. V says OK but learn from the correction in red below Reciprocal altruism is not common in animals. In order for reciprocal altruism to work two individuals must interact with each other more than once, and also be able to recognize each other. This requires small stable groups of animals that are in constant interaction with each other. This does not occur with animals because most animals are not stable. They are constantly looking for food and trying to survive, with no ability to spare what they have. An example of reciprocal altruism is found on tropical coral reefs. Various species of small fish act as ‘cleaners’ for large fish, removing parasites from their mouths and gills. The interaction is mutually beneficial, the large fish gets cleaned and the cleaner gets fed. This is more accurately an example of mutualism. Reciprocal altruism usually refers to intra-species interactions.
Jordan W (Blue Group) 19. What is the relationship between social learning and culture? -Mr. V approved Social learning forms the roots of culture. Social learning is learning through observing others. Culture is using social learning to transfer information from the old to the young. Basically culture is when the young learn certain behaviors from the older more experienced individuals by observation. The younger monkey watches and learns how to eat, by using his hand and bringing pieces to his mouth, an example of social learning. The culture of the monkey’s is bringing pieces to the mouth with the hand.
Jordan W (Blue group)
When contributing to the reading guide, follow these steps:
1) First complete the reading guide on your own from the Ecology unit page.
2) Write your response to a question in word and then copy it. Be sure to upload pictures and/or video for each question.
3) Click on the edit button and then go to the appropriate question and paste your answer below it. Sign your contribution with your first name and last initial and TEAM COLOR
4) Scroll to the very bottom and in the Optional comment box, place a summary of what you did and sign it (e.g. "I answered chp 26 question 3" - Tom S.) Th en click Save.
19-17
16-14
13-12
11-10
9-7
6-4
3-1
1. How do behavioral ecologists define behavior? -Mr. V approved (also evolutionary significance of behavior as related to life history)
Behavioral ecologists define behavior as everything an animal does and how it does it. --Jackie H. red team
2. What is the focus of:
a. Proximate questions of behavior? -Mr. V approved
b. Ultimate questions of behavior?
3. Define the following terms: -Mr. V say O.K. but examples would help others.
a. Ethology- the study of animal behavior in natural conditions
b. Fixed action pattern- (FAP) a sequence of unlearned behavioral acts that is essentially unchangeable and usually carried to completion and initiated - example: goose will continue to roll an egg back to it's nest even after the egg is take from it.
c. Sign stimulus-an external sensory stimulus that triggers a FAP
For example, if a golf ball were placed infront of the goose, it would still roll it under because have a round object infront of it acts as a stimulus -Kim K.
d. Imprinting-a type of learned behavior with a significant innate component, acquired during a limitted critical period; generally irreversable
For example, when ducklings follow a human because the human image as their mother was imprinted in them at an early age. -Kim K.
e. Sensitive period-a limitted phase in an animal's development that is the only time when certain behviors can be learned
f. Innate behavior-behavior that is devellopmentally fixed and under strong genetic control
--Jackie H. red team
4. Compare and contrast and give specific examples of kinesis and taxis. -Mr. V approved
Kinesis is a simple change in activity or turning rate in response to a stimulus. For example, sow bugs survive best in moist environments because they exhibit a kinesis in response to variation in humidity. In contrast to a kinesis, a taxis is a more or less automatic, oriented movement toward or away from some stimulus. An example of a taxis would be that many stream fish exhibit positive rheotaxis; they automatically swim or orient themselves in an upstream direction.
Dan S.
Table of Different Taxes
5. What is the relationship between migration and genetic control Mr. V says you need to revise this answer (incorrect)
They are related because the migration of a species causes them to spread their gene, which then caused genetic drift. Species may move due to their surroundings. If the environment isn’t able to support the species, they will often find one that can. In their search for this new environment, the species will also spread their genes with others.
This picture shows that as the birds migrate, they share their genes with others in their species causing drastic changes in the end.
6. How are the terms signal and communication related? -Mr. V approved
A signal is a behavior that causes a change in another animal’s behavior. The transmission of, reception of, and response to signals constitute animal communication, an essential element of interactions between individuals.
The cattle egret emits a loud call to warn nearby cattle of stalking predators.
Dan S.
7. Describe and give three different examples of animal signals and communication. -Mr. V Says Pictures are helpful
1. Most terrestrial mammals are nocturnal, so they use olfactory and auditory signals (smell and sound) to signal each other, because these work best in the dark. Olfactory signals rely greatly on pheromones, which are odors that emit chemical substances from an animal.
2. Birds, however, are diurnal, and communicate by visual and auditory signals. Birds use songs as their main type of communication.
3. Humans are also diurnal and find it easiest to communicate via auditory and visual signals.
8. What evidence is there that mating and parental behavior can be under genetic influence? -Mr. V Says add pictures and elaborate - did the mice become monogamous? Imagine if the was developed as a commercial treatment for humans?!?
An organism called the prairie vole has unique mating behavior, in which it is monogamous and also helps the female with their offspring and cares for them. These traits are very rare among male terrestrial mammals. Research showed that during mating, a neuro-transmitter called V1a is distributed greatly, which probably controls their mating behavior. To test this, scientists inserted the prairie vole V1a into lab mice. After being injected with this, the mice started to show brain activity concerning the V1a very similar to that on the prairie vole and similar mating habits, as opposed to wild mice, which showed none of the same characteristics.
9. Define the following terms: -Mr. V Says examples would help
a. Learning
the modification of behavior based on specific experiences
b. Habituation
the loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey little or no information
c. Spatial learning
the modification of behavior based on experience with the spatial structure of the environment, including the locations of nest sites, hazards, food, and prospective mates
d. Cognitive map
an internal representation, or code, of the spatial relationships between objects in an animal's surroundings
e. Associative learning
the ability of many animals to associate one feature of the environment with another
f. Classical conditioning
an arbitrary stimulus is associated with a reward, or punishment
g. Operant conditioning
trial-error learning, an animals learns to associate one of its own behaviors with a reward, or a punishment and then tends to repeat or avoid that behavior
- Keely B.
10. Describe the classic experiment done by Tinbergen dealing with wasps. Why was this experiment considered important? -Mr. V approved
11. Specifically, describe what cognitive ethology studies. -Mr. V approved
Cognitive ethology studies the connection between nervous systems and a creature's behavior. Cognitive ethology studies the potential for animals to solve problems -Adam A-
The chimp uses the stick to get his food
12. Look up the definition of natural selection or review briefly the first chapter pages 15 – 18. Using this framework proved two different examples of the relationship between behavioral trait and natural selection. Why does this relationship “make sense”?
1. A trait of fish are to swim in schools because they have a smaller chance of being eaten since they look bigger.
-Mr. V approved
13. The statement can be made that “there are risks and benefits” to everything.” How does this relate to the optimal foraging theory? -Mr. V approved
There is a compromise between the benefits of nutrition and the cost of obtaining food.—Mario Ciao
The theory states that natural selection will favor animals that have developed foraging methods that use less energy and are at less of a risk of being killed while obtaining the food. This theory wants the risk of being killed to be small as possible and the benefits to be as large as possible. Martin A
The most important factor in the evolution of mating systems is the survival of offspring. This “makes sense” because the mating systems that worked (produced offspring), are going to be repeated in the succeeding generation. If a mating system is unproductive, their will be no offspring to continue doing it.
In a beehive, their is the queen bee, sterile workers, and fertile males. This is a mating system that has worked to ensure the survival and reproduction of bees. If it was unsuccessful in a particular environment, it is likely that it would die out.
15. What is agonistic behavior? -Mr. V approved
Agonistic behavior is behavior of an organisms that allows it to gain access to a resource (food, territory, mate). Organisms will display this behavior, and the most dominant will gain access to the resources. For example, male peacocks have large, colorful tails that they display to attract mates. The most noticeable peacock is likely to be chosen for mating.
16. How does game theory relate to animal behavior? -Mr. V approved
The game theory says that organisms' lives are much like a game: the organism with the best situation for reproduction wins. At a basic level, this “situation” includes access to food, water, and mates.
Darwin observed finches in the Galapagos that fed on different foods. Because there were too many finches to eat just one type of food, those birds that were able to vary their diets did so. By changing the things they ate, they improved their likelihood of reproducing (winning the game).
17. Define the following terms: -Mr. V approved
a. Altruism
Behavior that appears to reduces an individual’s fitness while increasing the fitness of another individual.
Here the monkeys are helping each other by picking off harmful objects and insects, and receiving nothing in return. (except that grooming is reciprocal)
The total effect an individual has on proliferating its genes by producing its own offspring and by providing aid that enable other close relatives to increase the production of their offspring.
The probability that a particular gene present in one individual will also be inherited from a common parent or ancestor in a second individual.
A phenomenon of inclusive fitness, used to explain altruistic behavior between related individuals.
18. Is reciprocal altruism common in animals? Why or why not? -Mr. V says OK but learn from the correction in red below
Reciprocal altruism is not common in animals. In order for reciprocal altruism to work two individuals must interact with each other more than once, and also be able to recognize each other. This requires small stable groups of animals that are in constant interaction with each other. This does not occur with animals because most animals are not stable. They are constantly looking for food and trying to survive, with no ability to spare what they have.
An example of reciprocal altruism is found on tropical coral reefs. Various species of small fish act as ‘cleaners’ for large fish, removing parasites from their mouths and gills. The interaction is mutually beneficial, the large fish gets cleaned and the cleaner gets fed. This is more accurately an example of mutualism. Reciprocal altruism usually refers to intra-species interactions.
Jordan W (Blue Group)
19. What is the relationship between social learning and culture? -Mr. V approved
Social learning forms the roots of culture. Social learning is learning through observing others. Culture is using social learning to transfer information from the old to the young. Basically culture is when the young learn certain behaviors from the older more experienced individuals by observation.
The younger monkey watches and learns how to eat, by using his hand and bringing pieces to his mouth, an example of social learning. The culture of the monkey’s is bringing pieces to the mouth with the hand.
Jordan W (Blue group)